Current-motor.



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PATENTED SEPT.

Elm 897,876.

H. G. GODER.

CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY-24, 1907.

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- I PA'I'ENTED SEPT. 8', 1908.

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HARVEY G. OODER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CURRENT-MOTOR.

Application filed May 24, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY C. CODER, citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current-Motors, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to devise novel means for utilizingcurrents of water and ebb and flow tide for driving machinery or forother purpose in the industrial arts where motive power is required foroperating moving parts.

For afull understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means foreffecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section of a current or water motor embodyingthe invention. Fig.2 is a horizontal section of the motor above thewater line. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the means for transmitting motionfrom one shaft to another and yet admit of their relative movement. Fig.4 is a detail perspective view of the guard or protector. Fig. 5 is anedge View of one form of motor wheel. Fig. 6 is a side view of the formof motor wheel shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view of an adjustableplate. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a modified form of motor wheel. Fig. 9is a fragmentary view in perspective of a frame in which a shaft ismounted. Fig. 10 is a detail view of means for raising and lowering a'frame. Fig. 11 is a detail view of a portion of the frame and thehousing means connected therewith.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The framework of the motor embodies a boat, scow or kindred float, thesame being of any shape and size according to the design and capacity ofthe motor. The center portion of the boat, float or the like is leftopen to receive the vertically adjustable frames,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Serial No. 375,489

guides and adjunctive parts. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the boat orfloat is of the catamaran type and comprises two buoyant members 1 whichare lashed or connected at opposite ends in any substantial way. Thefloat or boat is anchored or otherwise secured in the desired position.hen anchored cables, chains or like means 2 connect the float or boatwith the anchor 3, which latter may be of any structural type. The connecting means 2 extend from the anchor 3 to different parts of the boator float, which is indicated most clearly in Fig. 1. A roof 4 covers thestructure to, protect the same from inclement weather and sunshine.Vertical guides 5 connect the roof structure with the deck, floor orhull of the boat or float, and also serve to direct frames 6 which areadjustable vertically and support the motor wheels and cooperatingparts. The inclosed spaces located above the buoyant members 1 areutilized as rooms for receiving the machinery for utilizing energyderived from the force of the water currents by the mechanism.

The machinery may be of any type, dynamos being preferred, whereby theforce transformed into electrical energy may be conserved by storagebatteries for future use and at any desired location. This is only oneway of utilizing the power of the water currents transformed into usefulenergy.

As indicated there are a series of frames 6 each being verticallyadjustable independently of the other. It is to be understood that thenumber of frames 6 may be varied and that the constructionmay bemodified to meet conditions and requirements. By having the frameadjustable the motor wheels are rendered accessible for repairs,inspection or for other purpose. Any suitable means may be employed forraising and lowering the motor frames. As indicated a shaft 7 is locatedat or near the top of the structure and a cable or chain 8 is adapted towind thereon, the same being connected at its lower end with the motorframe. The shaft 7 may be rotated either by hand or by any positivelyoperated part of the mechanism. By having a series of motor frames andmotor sections any one may be elevated or thrown out of action withoutdisturbing the others, so that one section may be repaired or thrown outof action for any purpose without interfering with the operation of theZOI 11 bevel gearing 18.

other sections, which may conserve or utilize power represented by thewater currents.

Each motor frame isprovided with one or more shafts 9 upon which aseries of motor wheels 10 are mounted, the said motor wheels eachcomprising a rim and a hub connected by radial spokes. A vertical shaft11 transmits motion from the motor shaft 9 to countershaft 12, thelatter beingmounted in bearing overhead and adapted to be connected inany manner with the dynamo or other mechanism to be operated. The lowerend of the shaft 11 is geared to the motor shaft in any way, preferablyby means of The countershaft 12 is provided with a bevel gear 14 whichis in mesh with a companion bevel gear 15, the latter having a featherand spline connection with the shaft 1 1 or connected with said shaft inany way to admit of the shaft moving vertically through the bevel gear15, while at the same time imparting rotary movement thereto.

As shown in Fig. 2, the motor wheels upon one shaft are arrangedopposite the spaces between the motor wheels of the adjacent shaft,thereby preventing interference of one set of motor wheels with theother, while at the same time providing for utilization of a maximumamount of current force. The motor wheels may be of any type and theirblades made straight, as shown in Fig. 8, or curved, as indicated inFigs. 5 and 7. In order to provide for varying the diameter of the motorwheels, the blades are constructed to be lengthened and shortened andare formed of sections 16 and 17, the latter being fixed and the formerslidable. The blades are supported and braced near their outer ends bymeans of a rim 18 which is connected by radial spokes to the hub of thewheel and slots are formed in said rim for the outer sections 16 of theblades to slide through. Suitable fastenings are employed for securingthe sections 16 in the required adjusted position.

For the purpose of preventing injury to the motor wheels by drift wood aguard member 19 is provided and the said guard member is mounted toswing about a Vertical axis 21. An operating lever 22 is provided foradjusting the guard which can be swung laterally to accommodate itselfto the direction of the current. Any suitable means such as the rackshown upon the drawing as cooperating with a tooth upon the operatinglever may be utilized for locking the guard member in position. The twosides' of this guard member are composed of outwardly converging seriesof vertical rollers 20 which serve to readily deflect any drift wood orlike material which would tend to injure the motor wheels should itenter the space between the floats 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A motor wheel comprising arim having slots therein, and blades formedin sections,

the inner sections being rigid with the wheel while the outer sectionspass loosely through the slots in the rim and are adjustably connectedto the inner sections.

2. In a current motor, the combination of a float, a motor wheel mountedupon the float, and a guard for the motor wheel, the said guard beingmounted to swing bodily about a vertical axis.

3. In a current motor, the combination of a float, a motor wheel mountedupon the float, and a guard for the motor wheel, the said guard beingformed with a series of rollers and being mounted to swing bodily abouta vertical axis.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY C. CODER. Witnesses:

T. D. HENNEssY, W. C. MILLER.

